Representation was a major issue during Tuesday’s Student Senate meeting.

Members of both SMU’s athletic and LGBTQ communities attended the meeting to show support for special interest seats in the legislature.

The legislation to create an LGBTQ seat failed to pass. While the bill received a majority of votes, it was unable to pass due to the necessary two-thirds requirements to create a senate seat. Harvey Luna, who wrote the legislation, has stated he will bring the issue back to the floor next year.

The athletic community has also assured senate that they will work to create a seat next year.

SMU football’s ability to recruit keeps getting easier for SMU Head Coach June Jones after his continued success at SMU and earning consecutive bowl appearances. Through this years recruiting class, SMU is one step closer to building back the program that was once so powerful.

The Mustangs wrapped up national college football signing day by announcing a recruiting class of 28 student-athletes, 21 of which are rated three-star or above (ranked by rivals.com). This is a 30 percent increase from the 2010 recruiting class, which hosted only 16 three-star recruits.

“It’s the best recruiting class by far that I’ve had in my return to college football,” Head Coach June Jones said.

Scout.com ranked the Mustangs incoming class at No. 1 among all non-BCS AQ schools. Rivals.com ranked SMU’s recruiting class no. 50 overall. This is the highest ranked class for SMU in three decades.

The incoming class is made up of six wide receivers, five defensive backs, one quarterback (enrolled in January), one center, one running back, three offensive linesmen, two defensive linesmen, two defensive tackles, three defensive ends and four left backs.

“Next year will be the first time we’ve had depth on defense and I feel real good about that,” Jones said. “I think the quality of the athletes [is the best we’ve had].”

One new Mustang is four-star Davon Moreland (6’3, 230), the highest-rated player signed by SMU in the Rivals’ decade-plus database.

“To be a championship team and make a BCS run, you have to be able to win the game on defense,” said Jones to ESPN DFW. “We keep adding talent and depth on the defensive side and I think that’s kind of what we wanted to do.”

The list of new recruits includes wide receiver Nyle Johnson, son of NFL player and USFL All-Star Trumaine Johnson, and Jonathan Yenga, brother of four-year starter Youri Yenga.

Of those to sign with SMU – including quarterback Conner Preston, who enrolled in classes last month –21 are labeled three-star recruits by Rivals.com, which is more than in 2007 (4), 2008 (4) and 2009 (7) combined.

From Wednesday’s 28 signees, 18 call Texas there home and 27 are joining the Mustangs out of high school.

Below is a list of the complete 28 recruits set to join the Mustangs in the fall.

Channel 8 Sports Anchor Dale Hansen speaks at SMU Faculty Club, Monday, January 25th. Hansen recalled his involvement in the investigation regarding the cheating in the SMU Football program, which later lead to the death penalty. (PHOTO BY FERNANDO VALDES/ SMU DAILY MUSTANG)

Dale Hansen, Channel 8 Sports Anchor who originally broke the story about the NCAA infractions committed by the SMU Football Program in the 1980′s, spoke Monday afternoon at the SMU Faculty Club.

For the first time since Pony Excess aired on ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 documentary series, Hansen had the opportunity to share his side of the story with SMU. He recalled how he could not believe that a school would cheat in order to win football games. Hansen also told stories about the many threats he received following SMU’s Death Penalty, one of which included a package that contained a dead bird with a broken neck and a note pinned to its chest stating he was next.

Throughout his speech Hansen commended June Jones for the work he has done at SMU and his desire to win the right way, without cheating.

Hansen does not apologize for the outcome of the investigation. Instead, he says he feels proud that it was his station that uncovered the story.

The SMU Daily Mustang’s Ali Williams talked to SMU wide receiver Darius Johnson, the SMU MVP of the game, after the Mustang’s loss against the Army 14-16. Hear what he had to say about his performance, the team momentum and the team’s relationship with June Jones after his controversial interview for a positon at Maryland.

The ‘Stangs wore black to honor their opponent and the men and women overseas. Many Army fans and students filled the stands as well as Mustang fans and Dallasites. Eric Dickerson and Craig James, the SMU Pony Express twosome, also attended the game to cheer on the Ponies.

Turnovers plagued SMU the first half of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Army played a strong first half leading 16-0 heading into the locker room. Army forced three SMU turnovers. The first turnover came in the first few minutes of play and was returned for a touchdown by Army’s Anderson. SMU’s biggest highlight the first half was a blocked Army extra point by Margus Hunt.

Padron got some things rolling in the 3rd quarter. A nine-play drive was completed with a touchdown pass to Aldrick Robinson. In the 4th quarter, the ‘Stangs made it a two point game when Padron completed a pass to Darius Johnson. SMU attempted a field-goal kick that would have put them ahead, but the strong winds prevented it. The Mustang’s run-and-shoot play controlled the ball the second half.

It was a big game for Army’s captain, Anderson, who was the team’s MVP and Army’s McNary, who returned the first Padron fumble for a touchdown and had some huge hits and sacks throughout the game. SMU’s Zach Line finished his great season with a good running game. And, SMU’s Johnson, Robinson and Holman had great games for the Mustangs as well.

Last night, I had the chance to go to the ESPN 30 for 30 early premier of Pony Excess, the newest edition to the television series that was based on the story of the Death Penalty.

Being a former player who had the chance to be apart of the team that brought the first bowl back to SMU, I knew the film would show people who were unfamiliar with our school the reason why the last twenty five years have been so rough. A period of time that nearly killed a program…nearly.

The film was brilliant and tells all sides of the story, but I don’t want to give much away and I don’t want to take away from the real reason why I am writing this blog. Tomorrow the Mustangs will be in Orlando, Florida battling against the University of Central Florida for the Conference USA Championship.

Head Coach June Jones will lead his Mustangs into Knight country where they will be facing a fast and physical team in UCF. Clearly both teams are in this position for a reason, but the actual question needing to be asked is which teams will show up Saturday.

When you put both teams next to each other, the guess on who would actually win may come down to who is used to being in this position, that team being UCF. But is there more to this game than experience? Are the Mustangs capable of going into Orlando and overcoming a hostile UCF crowd to capture the first CUSA Conference Championship ever?

UCF has the defense. SMU has the offense. So I would say that the x-factor in this game will be special teams. Who will show the passion in that extra play to create a moment that can grab momentum and hang on to it for four quarters? The game begins tomorrow at 11 a.m., so have your television set ready to see CUSA football at its finest.

SMU football faced Texas Tech today finishing with a disappointing loss. The Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Mustangs played an unusual Sunday football game. ESPN covered the game and many SMU students were anxious to see if the ‘stangs would live up to the hype.

SMU’s Kyle Padron could not match up against Texas Tech’s Taylor Potts, who threw for 359 yards and had four touchdowns. The final score, 35-27, marks Tommy Tuberville’s first victory as head coach of Texas Tech.

Padron and the Mustangs still hold potential for a successful season and a possible run at another bowl game. The ‘Stangs held their own against the Big 12 Raiders and kept the game tight in the second half. Although the first loss was an upset for many Pony fans, Sunday’s close match-up showed a strong Mustang Football team heading into the 2010 season.

ESPN.com has more on the game.
Stay tuned to SMU Daily Mustang for an exclusive photo gallery from the game.

SMU Football players along with Coach June Jones stood by as members of the Seminole Nation blessed the latest additions to their team. The ceremony held yesterday evening officially welcomed mustangs Liberty and Justice to the SMU campus. Stay tuned for the scoop on pre-game pageantry Coach Jones and the Mustangs have coming up this season.